backroom boys
Preserved but no longer current.
A name given familiarly to the scientists and others who, unknown to the general public, devised and developed in their studies and laboratories methods of scientific warfare. The name has since been applied generally to such unknown workers in all branches of technology.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “backroom boys” mean?
A name given familiarly to the scientists and others who, unknown to the general public, devised and developed in their studies and laboratories methods of scientific warfare. The name has since been applied generally to such unknown workers in all branches of technology.
Is “backroom boys” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.